Magnetic wand actuated toy



Aug- 11, 1953 .1.c. WILSON ETAL MAGNETIC WAND ACTUATED TOY `3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 22, 1950 fJ 20 f5@ Aug. 11, 1953 J. c. wlLsoN ET AL 2,648,157

MAGNETIC WAND ACTUATED TOY Filed June 22, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORIZY J. C. WILSON ET AL MAGNETIC WAND ACTUATED TOY Aug. 1l, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 22, 1950 III ATTO

Patented Aug. 11, 1953 Jack C.

Wilson, Garden City, and Harry W. Wilson, Hempstead, N. 'YJ

Application June 22, 1950,'-seria1Na 169,716

(el. is-45) Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to a magnetic toy.`

The Ymagnetic toy which yis herein described and'claimed provides anV optical illusion. It is actuated by means Yof magnetic forces which are manually controlled. The toy may assume many varied forms of which three preferred forms are shown in the drawing and described in the specification.. Inlone of .these preferred forms, the principal feature of the toy is the optical illusion which it provides. In the other two preferredirms, tw'important features are providedf rthe optical illustion and a trick magnetic rneansfor effecting said optical illusion.

The Vprincipal Object of this invention is the provision of a magnetic toy in which the figure of ahumanbeing or natural object or the like isk'immersed in a clear fluid confined within a container 'which is at least partly transparent, and wherein the optical illusion of an' opaque fluid rising to engulf the figure and then subsiding to clear the figure, is created by magnetic means. More specifically,k a movable sleeve is mounted within said container formovement toward and away from the figure. The figure is centrally disposed relative to "the sleeve and when the sleeve is caused to move in one direction, it receives the figure and conceals 4the same from view. When the sleeve is caused to move in the opposite direction, it uncovers the figure which then returns to view. The sleeve is opaque and its movement through the clear fluid in the container in either direction therein, creates the illusion of a moving body of opaque fluid. This illusion is vrendered most realistic by the fact that the container is, itself, opaque, in part, its opacity corresponding tothe opacity of the sleeve. The sleeve moves into and out of the opaque portion of the 'container with no visible evidence'of 'a parting line between said sleeve and said opaque portion of the container. The movement of thevsleeve ismagnetically controlled, at least in one direction. Inthe preferred forms of thisv invention, the sleeve is bouyant in the liquid and it normally tends to rise to cover and conceal the figure. kThe sleeve is provided with a magnetic member or with a member which is responsive to magnetic forces. A magnetic wand is then provided which may be waved or otherwise moved past the magnetic or magnetically responsive member on the sleeve. The sleeve is thereby caused tomove in the direction of movement'offthewand. To expose the figure', this movement would be dc`nwnw'ard'tov overcome' the buoyancy of thefsleeve. In the preferred forms of A'this invention the wand as l 2 sumes `the shape of aLringY and the container assumes the form of' a cylinder. The dimensions of the ring and cylinder are respectively such as to enable the ring to accommodate the cylinder in slidable relation thereto. b n Inone preferredjform of the invention, the ring vis made of,V non-magnetic materiali and xedly mounted therein and concealed from view, is` at least one magnet,and preferably a pair of magnets, arrangedto attract ythe magnetic. or magnetically .responsive member inthe sleeve.` 'In the other two preferred forms of the' invention, the magnet or magnets are movably mountedin said ring. ,Y In one position, they attract thel magnetically responsive member in the sleeve' in another position `their magnetic in-,' fluence upon said magnetically responsive member.i:n.thesleeve isL negligible. Hence in yone position, the magnets in the ring may be employed torchangethe position of the sleeve; in another position, said magnetsy ycannot be employed for that'p'urposeL The change in position of the'magnets inthe ring may be effected byltapping or otherwise jarring the ring. When said ring is tapped at one point, the magnets Will be caused .to slide in the direction of that point. When` the ring is tapped aty a diametrically opposite lpoint,` the magnets are caused'to slide in a', diametricallyrk opposite direction. yFerrous platesvrare fixed in the ring at oppositeends of the linesof travel of said magnets and these plates Yserve as anchors for said.magnetstemA porarily or detachably securing said magnets at therespective ends of `their lines of travel.

` VThefpreferred forms of the invention which have above'been mentioned are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in which: f j VEig.j1 }is afront perspective viewv of a magnetic toy incorporating'the features of one of said preferred forms of jthe invention, showing the hu,- man figureex'posed to viewin respons'efto the action ofthe magnetic ring.

"Fig 2 isa similar view showing the sleevein figure-concealing position. v Vv13 is" a longitudinal'section throughv said magnetic toy, showing all of its operative parts. Figqi isa view looking downwardlyin thedirection ofarrows 4, 4 of Fig. 3, the top wall of the* magnetic ring being partly broken away to expose4 the ltwo bar` magnets which are fixedly nieuwe@ thereinf f 'gi Sis an exploded `Vvie'win perspective ofthe sleeve, its buoyant element and rits metallicy ring whichl is rresponsive?to the magnetic fforces ofv the" `-t`wo bar magnets, .said `sleeve being partly broken away and in section to show that it may be made of plastic material rendered opaque by an outer opaque coating.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a magnetic toy made in accordance with the second preferred'form of this invention, wherein the magnetic ring is shown in vertical section, and the fluid container is partly broken away and in section, as is the movable sleeve, to expose the working parts in said fluid container. t n

Fig. 'l is a top view of the magnetic ring which is used in the second preferred formlof the invention, the top wall of said ring being broken away in pait to expose the two bar magnets mounted therein and the retaining members or anchors for said magnets, showing said magnets anchored in such position as to enable them to exert magnetic influence upon the metallic ring in the movable sleeve.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showingthe magnets anchored in another position wherein .their magnetic influence upon the metallic ring m the movable sleeve is negligible.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6.showing a magnetic toy made in accordance with the third preferred form of this invention.

Fig. -10 is a top view similar to that of' Fig. '7 showing the construction of the magnetic ring which is used in said third form of the invention.

Fig. 11 is another top Fig. 8, showing the magri ion. SlisThe form of invention illustrated in the first five figures of the drawing is the simpler of the two forms. It comprises the following component parts: a base I0, a cylindrical container II of fluid I2, a fixed pedestal I3 in said container supporting a human figure I4 or the like, a buoyview, similar to that of ets in inoperative poant sleeve I5 movably mounted within said cona magnetically responsive ring I6 seand a control ring I1 which is either itself magnetic or, as Fig. 3 .clearly shows, is made of non-magnetic material and carries a pair of bar magnets I8 and I9 respectively.

Base I0 is, preferably, molded of plastic material. It is cylindrical in shape, its diametrical dimension exceeding its height. It has a top wall Illa with a circular hole I0b formed centrally thereof and a ridge IIIc formed peripherally thereof along its top edge. The base has a cylindrical outer wall Illd extending downwardly from the peripheral edge of top wall IUa, and a cylindrical inner wall I0e formed concentrically therewith. The diameter of hole 0b 1n the top wall of the :base is exceeded by -the inside diameter of inner wall IIIe. An annular flange III! is thereby formed as an integral part of the top Wall, said flange projecting radially inwardly from inner cylindrical wall IIIe.

Cylindrical container II projects downwardly into hole Ib in the top wall of the base. It is provided with external screw threads at its lower end to receive internally threaded cap 20. As Fig. 3 clearly shows, the upper peripheral edgeof said cap abuts against flange IIIf of the base which serves as a shoulder relative thereto. The cylindrical container II is thereby locked against upward dislodgement with respect to the base. A plastic composition or sealing wax 2I or the like is applied to the bottom of the :cap and to the inside surface of cylindrical wall IIIe of, the base, thereby securing cap` to 'said base and preventing downward tainer, cured to said sleeve,

dislodgement of said cap and hence of said cylindrical container, relative to -the base.

Cylindrical container II is open at its lower end and it is provided with a closed upper end I Ia. If desired, the thickness of the wall of said container may be reduced at its upper end to receive a top cap 22. By reason of this reduction in thickness, top cap 22 and cylindrical container II will present a flush, continuous outer surface. Cylindrical container II should be made of transparent material, such as clear plastics, at least part of the distance below top cap 22. In the preferred forms of this invention the entire container is made of transparent material. Cap 22 on the other hand is opaque and the lower portion of the container is rendered opaque by means of an opaque coating 23 on the inside `of said container. This is clearly shown in Figs. l and 3. The fluid I2 which is confined within container II is a clear fluid and it may, if desired, comprise a glycerin-in-water solution. The viscosity and specific gravity of the fluid should be such as to render sleeve I5 buoyant within it.

Pedestal I3 which supports the human figure I4 is provided with a base I3a which has a radially outwardly extending annular flange I3b. It is clearly shown in Fig. 3 that flange I3b abuts the lower end of the cylindrical container II. It is pressed tightly against said lower end of the container by screw cap 20, and a liquid-tight seal is thereby provided which prevents the fluid from leaking out of the bottom of the container. The main body of the base I3ailts snugly into the open lower end of said container to assist in sealing said container against leaks. This construction also serves the purpose of securely centering the pedestal in the cylindrical container.

A hole is formed at the top end of the pedestal, centrally and longitudinally thereof. The human figure I4, which in this instance represents or simulates Santa Claus, is provided with a downwardly projecting peg or pin I4a which may be press fitted into the hole at the top of the pedestal. If desired, an adhesive or cement or any other suitable means may be employed to aix the human figure to the pedestal or, if this should prove advisable, the human figure .and the pedestal may be molded together to form a unitary, integral molding. A ring I4b may be interposed between the human figure and the pedestal to serve as a stop member for the movable sleeve I5 above mentioned.

Sleeve I5 should be buoyant in fluid I2. The material of which the sleeve is made may be sufficiently buoyant for this purpose or a hollow construction should be employed which would render the sleeve buoyant. Another method of handling this problem is illustrated in Fig. 5 where it is shown that a buoyant ring |5a, such as a ring made of cork, may be incorporated into the sleeve to add its buoyancy to the normal buoyancy of the sleeve proper. The cork ring is inserted into the sleeve and a snug fit is provided between the ring and the sleeve to prevent dislodgement of said ring relative to said sleeve. It is this cork ring which engages ring I4b on pedestal I3 to limit the upward movement of the sleeve.

Magnetically responsive ring I6 is also secured to the inside of sleeve I5. This magnetically responsive ring is, in its preferred form, a split ring made of -ferrous material. When it is inserted into the bottom of sleeve I5, immediately below cork ring I5a, its inherent springiness enables it to engage the inner wall of the sleeve and to x it therein against dislodgement therefrom.

Sleeve I5 is made, preferably, of plastics and it may or may not be transparent. It is sufcient that an opaque coating I5b be applied to its outer surface, said opaque coating I5b corresponding to the opaque coating 23 on the inside of cylindrical container II. The opaque coating 23 on the inside of the container is exposed to view through the transparent wall of said container. The outside opaque coating I5b of the sleeve is also exposed to view through the transparent wall of said container when said sleeve rises above the top limits ofthe inside opaque coating 23 of said container.. It is extremely difficult to detect the line of demarcation between the top edge of said inside coating 23 and the outside coating I5b of the sleeve. See Fig. 2.

The normal tendency of the buoyant sleeve is to rise in fluid I2. Its upward movement will stop when its cork ring engages the ring which is interposed between the pedestal and the human gure it supports. buoyant sleeve may be effected by means of the magnetic ring I'I above mentioned. As has above been indicated, this ring may be made of nonmagnetic material and a pair of magnets I8 and I9 may be installed therein to provide the necessary magnetic attraction with respect to the split ring I6. These magnets are disposed on a common diametric line in said ring, the north pole of magnet I8 and the south pole of magnet I9 pointing toward each other and toward and adjacent the cylindrical container I I. The magnetic influences of said magnets are thereby brought to bear upon the split ring in the sleeve so that when ring I1 is mounted upon the cylindrical container II and is brought downwardly thereon to its position of rest on base I 0, said split ring is attracted by the two bar magnets and said split ring and the sleeve to which it is aixed are thereby brought downwardly to their respective positions of Fig. 3. Peripheral. ridge Ic on the base will help to center ring I1 as Fig. 3 clearly shows.

The magnetic toy which isshown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 and which illustrates the second preferred form of this invention, is basically similar to the magnetic toy shown in the first five figures of the drawing. There is no essential difference between their respective ybases and fluid containers and the mechanism within said containers. It may be noted, however, that there is no cap on magnetic toy 30 corresponding to cap 22 of the above described magnetic toy. Instead an opaque coating 3I is applied to the top end of cylindrical container 32 in magnetic toy 30. Its function, like that of top cap 22, is to conceal whatever air bubbles may happen to be trapped in the top end of the fluid container. It may also be noted that the wall of fluid container 32 is of uniform thickness throughout in contra-distinction to the wall structure of fluid container II as shown in Fig. 3.

The important differences between the two magnetic toys reside in their respective magnetic rings Il and 33. In ring I'I there are two bar magnets which are arrangedfin radial relation thereto and which are xed in their respective positions. In ring 33 on the other hand, there are two bar magnets 34 and 35 `respectively which are arranged in parallel relationship along what maybe described as a pair of chords extending Downward movement of said y tion 43 of a star.

tangentially of the cylindrical container. These bar magnets are movably mounted in a pair of channels 36 and 31 respectively which are formed in ring 33. Their range of movement may be determined by comparing their respective positions in Fig. 7 with their respective positions in Fig. 8. In Fig. 7 the north pole of magnet 34 and the south pole of magnet 35 are shown to be disposed adjacent thecircumferential edge of ring 33; the south pole of magnet 34 and the north pole of magnet 35 are shown to coincide, substantially, with .a diametric line extending through said ring and said cylindrical fluid container. In Fig. 8 on the other hand the magnets are shown to have been moved to a central position relative to said cylindrical fluid container so that a transverse line drawn through the centers of said magnets will coincide with a diametrically extending line drawn through the ring and the fluid container. In Fig. 7 the south pole of magnet 34 and the north pole of magnet 35 exert a strong magnetic influence upon the split ring mounted within the movable sleeve. In Fig.v 8 a negligible magnetic force is exerted upon the split ring since the magnetically weakest portions of the two magnets are there disposed adjacent said split ring. When the magnets are in their Fig. 7 positions, movement of ringf33 relavtive to the fiuid container will cause a corresponding movement of the sleeve mounted therein. When the magnets are in their Fig. 8 positions, a corresponding movement of ring 33 will produce no effect upon the position of said sleeve.

It will be seen in Figs. 7 and 8 that anchoring means are provided Y to-` anchor lthe magnetsin their respective positions of said Figs. -7 and 8. A bar or plate 38, made of ferrous material is Xedly mounted in ring 33 at one end of channels 36 and 31. This bar is sufciently long to extend from one channel to the other 'as Fig. 7 clearly shows. At the opposite end of channel 36 is a relatively small bar or plate 39, also made of ferrous material, and a similar bar or plate 4I) is mounted at the correspondingly opposite end of channel 31. When ring 33 is jarred,ras by-tapping it with the hand or against a hard object, the magnets will be caused to slide in their respective channels, either toward bar 38 or plates 39 and 4II. The direction of movement of the magnets Will be determined by the point at which the ring is tapped or caused to tap an object. The representation 4I of a half moon or quarter moon is provided on top wall 42 of ring 33, adjacent bar 38. Diametrically opposite is the representa- These representations or symbols will enable the person using the toy to determine which end of the ring to tap. When the ring is tapped to send the magnets in the di-4 rectiony of bar 38, they will engage said bar' and secure themselves magnetically thereto. They will then remain in the positions which they are shown to occupy in Fig. 7 until the ring is tapped to jar them loose from bar'38'and send them in the direction of plates 39 and 40. They will then engage said plates magnetically and reTthe-positions which they are shown to occupy in Fig. 8 until further tapping will dislodge them in the manner aforesaid.

There is, therefore, no difference in operation between the two magnetic toys insofar as'actu'- ating the movable sleeve is concerned. 'The'only difference resides in the construction'A and useof the magneticcontrol ring; `In the' rst preferred form of the invention, the ring' is always adapted Atoexert magnetic iniluenceaupon the split A'ring lin .themovable sleeve. :In the second:preferredform .of -theinvention, the magnetic-control ring may ,at times bezadapted to `exert magnetic influence upon the split `ring in .the sleeve, and at .other .times it may not be adapted to exert such in- Vfluence `upon said split ring. The .determining factoris, ,of course, lthelocation ,of ithe Itwo magnets.

Magnetic toyi..is basically similar to magnetic toy- 30 rshowninlig. .610i .the drawing. -It differs in only` two essentialrespects: in the construction of its vfloating sleeve `5| and in the .anchoring means for themagnets mits-magnetic ring 52.

The floating sleeve which :the first two yforms of the invention employ ismade of materialfwhich isfnot-buoyant in the fluidinwhich it is immersed. Arbuoyantmember such as Ycork must accordingly be affixed to the sleeve to enable it .to .float in said fluid. In the third form of the invention, on the other hand, the floating sleeve is itself made of buoyant material, that .is of material whose specific gravity, taking into `account the weight of iron ring 53, is exceeded by the vspe-- cific gravity of the liquid 54 in container .55. More specically,a sleeve madeof a polyethylene plastic, such as Polythene of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co Inc., .and ethylene glycol (also known as glycol and ethylenealcohol) as a liquid, may be Iused lin .this vform of the invention. The plastic is inert in :the :liquid and there is virtually no absorption of said liquid'by the plastic. Other suitable materials and liquidsmay also, of course, be utilized.

In principle, magnetic ring .52 resembles magnetic ring 33 which is shown in Figs, '7 and 8. Magnetic ring 52 comprises a hollow, ring-shaped housing 51, a bar magnet 58, a second bar magnet 59, a ferrous metal plate 60 which serves as an anchor for said magnets at one end thereof, and a second ferrous metal plate k6i which serves as an anchor for said magnets at their opposite end. Magnets 58 and 59 are slidably mounted on opposite sides of the center hole of the ringshaped housing, in parallel channels or compartments 62 and 63 respectively. It will be noted that metal plate 60 is a straight bar which extends in perpendicular relation to the two channels 62 and 63 and its two ends project into said channels at one end thereof. Metal plate 6| is bowed in its center portion to clear the annular Wall 51a of the housing which forms and encircles the central hole thereof. The two end portions of metal plate 6| are aligned with each other and they project into the opposite ends of channels 62 and 63 in perpendicular relation thereto. Thus the end portions of bowed metal plate 6| are parallel to metal plate .B0 and the two magnets are normal both to said end portions of bowed metal plate 6| and to the end portions of metal plate 60.

When the magnets are caused to slide in the direction .of fmetal plate 60, they secure or anchor themselves magnetically to said plate as Fig. 19 clearly shows. In effect, a horseshoe magnet is formed in which plate 60 constitutes the yoke and magnets 58 and 59 constitute the arms and legs. When the magnets are dislodged from metal plate 60 and caused to slide toward the aligned end portions of bowed metal plate 6l, they attach themselves magnetically to said end portions of the bowed plate as shown in Fig. ll. Again a horseshoe magnet is in effect formed with the bowed metal plate as the yoke and the two magnets as the arms or legs.

When `the vtwo `magnets are in the positions which they are shown to occupy in Fig. 10, their free ends aredisposed adjacent ferrous metal ring 53 and they are thereby enabled to exert magnetic influence upon said ring. When the magnets are inthe positions which they are shown to occupy in Fig. ll, their free poles lie beyond the rcenter ofthe lmagnetic ring -52 and hence relatively remote from iron ring "53. The magnetic flux is now carriedvaround said iron'ring 53, through the bowed metal plate 6|. The magnetic influence which the two magnets are thus enabled tolexert upon ring 5-3 is negligible. It is this feature which carries the magnetic flux around ring 53 which distinguishes magnetic ring 52 from magnetic ring 33 above described.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the preferred formsvof the invention which have above been described and which are shown in the drawing are presented solely for purposes of illustration and not for purposes of limitation. Modifications in construction may be incorporated therein and other forms of the invention may be provided, all within the broad 'scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the precise shape of the magnetic member (above identified as the magnetic ring) is not very important and hence, for purposes of convenience and -to avoid unnecessary limitation, said magnetic member will be referred to in at least some of the claims as a magnetic wand. Other .terminology which the claims will employ, follows: The term magnetic will be used to designateor describe both a magnet and a magnetically responsive element, such as iron ring `53 last above mentioned. The floating sleeve which is movable to conceal and expose the human ,ligure will be :referred to in the claims as the screen or floating screen or movable screen. The opaque portion or coating of the fluid container may ybe referred to as the ilxed screen.

Also illustrative of the many variations -of which this invention is susceptible are the following: The/shape, proportions and dimensions of the several component parts of the toy may be varied in accordance with individual preferences and requirements, The number, location and orientation of the magnets may lalso be variedas desired and as required. For example, a single magnetmay be used in place of the two vmagnets shown in the drawing. It would, of course, have to be suiliciently strong so that in one position it will exert magnetic influence upon the floating screen and in another position it will exert no magnetic influence or negligible magnetic inuence upon said floating screen.

We claim:

l. A magnetic toy of the character described, comprising'a closed container, a transparent wall in said container, a transparent iluid confined within said container, a human figure or the like mounted within said container and normally visible through said transparent wall, a screen which is buoyant in ysaid fluid being mounted in said container for upward movement Yto conceal said human figure and for downward movement to reveal said -human ligure, magnetic means associated with said screen for integral movement therewith, a wand which is movable outside the container, and a -magnetic element which is movably mounted in said wand, said magnetic element being movable to one position in said wand where it is able to influence said magnetic means, and being movable t0 another 9 position in said Wand where it is unable to inuence said magnetic means.

2. A magnetic toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein magnetically responsive elements are xedly mounted within the Wand adjacent the two positions of the magnetic element in said Wand, said magnetically responsive elements functioning as anchors for said magnetic element in its said positions.

3. A magnetic toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein a magnetically responsive member is Xed adjacent at least one of the two positions of the magnetic element to magnetically anchor said magnetic element in said position.

4. A magnetic toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein the magnetic element in the Wand comprises a magnet having two oppositely disposed, magnetically strong poles and a portion intermediate said poles which is magnetically weak, said magnet being movable to one position in said wand to bring one of its poles into close proximity to the magnetic means associated with the screen in order to iniluence said magnetic means and thereby to control the position of said screen, said magnet being movable to another position to bring its intermediate portion into close proximity to the magnetic means in order to weaken its influence upon said magnetic means and thereby to lose control of the position of said screen.

5. A magnetic toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein the magnetic element is movable in said Wand from a magnetically strong position relative to the magnetic means to a magnetically weak position relative to said magnetic means, and from a magnetically Weak position relative to said magnetic means to a magnetically strong position relative thereto.

JACK C. WILSON. HARRY W. WILSON.

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